Andrew Friedenberg—Producer and Co-Executive Director of Coronado Island Film Festival (CIFF)—announced today the festival’s opening-night film, Walt Disney Pictures’ January 29th release, The Finest Hours. The film stars Chris Pine (the Star Trek films), Academy Award® and Golden Globe®-nominee Casey Affleck (Interstellar), Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma), Holliday Grainger (Cinderella), John Ortiz (Silver Linings Playbook), and Eric Bana (Lone Survivor). The film is directed by Craig Gillespie (The Million Dollar Arm) and is produced by Jim Whitaker (American Gangster) and Dorothy Aufiero (The Fighter). Opening night will be held on January 15, 2016 with passes on sale now at Coronado Island Film Festival. The evening will be preceded by an opening-night reception and followed by a Q&A with filmmakers. As a heroic action-thriller, The Finest Hours is the remarkable true story of the greatest small boat rescue in Coast Guard history. Audiences will be transported to the heart of the action through a fully-immersive cinematic experience of epic proportions made possible by Digital 3D and IMAX® 3D.

The festival will close with the critically acclaimed Berlin Film Festival Silver Bear award-winning feature, 45 Years. Distributed by IFC Films, the feature provides a profound look at marriage and secrets and stars Charlotte Rampling (Restless) and Tom Courtenay (Doctor Zhivago) and is directed by Andrew Haigh (Weekend, Looking). A Q&A and reception will follow the screening on January 18.

“We could not be happier with the way the festival roster of programming and films are shaping up” stated festival Founder and Co-Executive Director, Doug St. Denis.

The festival’s Presenting Sponsor, the iconic Hotel del Coronado, will host numerous events including the festival’s closing-night bonfire celebration of the feature film, Some Like It Hot, to be screened on the same beach where it was filmed in 1958.

Highlights of the festival’s world-class programming include:

Family Programming:

• Inside Out with appearance by producer Jonas Rivera

• Home with appearances by director Tim Johnson and producer Suzanne Buirgy

• Military in the Movies Panel including representatives from the Coast Guard, Navy and others

• The Producers Panel including Lisa Bruce and Suzanne Buirgy

Parties and Celebrations:

• Opening Night Celebration of Coronado and the Hotel del Coronado

• Awards Ceremony and a special screening of Some Like It Hot on the beach with an introduction by Chris Lemmon—Jack Lemmon’s son—and hosted by Leonard Maltin.

Additionally, there will be a salute to Civil Rights filmmaker, Laurens Grant, who will be attending with three of her award-winning documentaries: Jesse Owens, The Freedom Riders, and The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution.

The festival—launching this year—was designed as a discovery festival of new and iconic films. With numerous members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences living in and around Coronado Island—and numerous other Academy members considering it as a second home— the founders and leadership of the festival view it as a likely and hopeful stop en route to Awards season. Coronado has been a go-to spot for stars since the days when the likes of Errol Flynn, Clark Gable, Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin strolled the Avenue. That same avenue, with its unique shops, blooming gardens, and alfresco dining, was recently named one of America’s five “Most Romantic Main Streets” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Additional activities and events around the festival will include:

• The welcoming of The Hollywood Reporter as a Festival Media Sponsor

• An extraordinary jury comprised of Leonard Maltin (movie critic, author and film historian) who will serve as the festival’s Honorary Head Juror; Lisa Bruce (producer, The Theory of Everything) who will serve as Head Juror for Narrative Films; Academy Award®-winner Ira Wohl (director, Best Boy) who will serve as Head Juror for Documentaries; and Jim Gallagher (Head of Theatrical Marketing, DreamWorks Animation SKG) who will serve as Head Juror for Shorts (Animated and Live Action).

Previously announced programming includes:

• The timeless classic, Some Like It Hot, filmed at the Del in 1958, will be shown at the Del Beach and introduced by Jack Lemmon’s son, Chris Lemmon. In addition, Chris will give two live performances of his one-man musical show A Twist of Lemmon in character as his father, Jack. The well-reviewed show—currently on tour—is based on Chris’ 2008 memoir of the same name.

• The quirky and brilliant The Stunt Man (1979)—starring Peter O’Toole and also filmed at the Del—will be introduced by its director, Richard Rush, who has been nominated for three Academy Awards®, including Best Director. Rush will remain after the showing for a Q&A.

• Errol Flynn’s 1939 Dive Bomber, featuring scenes of the Del and Coronado’s Naval Air Station North Island, will be introduced by Flynn’s daughter, Rory Flynn, and his grandson, actor Sean Flynn. They will remain after the showing for a Q&A.

Launched as a film week 35 years ago by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV),Istanbul Film Festival, being not only the longest-running film festival in Istanbul but also the largest-scale film event in Turkey, will celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2016. Supported by Akbank for the 12th time in a row, Istanbul Film Festival will take place between 7 -17 April 2016 thereby bringing a chapter of novelties for its 35th anniversary.

A breath of fresh air in the festival: National Short Film Competition

On its 35th anniversary, the Istanbul Film Festival launches the National Short Film Competition with the intent of incentivizing short film making, supporting the development in this field, and bringing together the audience and short films of quality.

The pre-selection board is composed of Head of Cannes Film Festival Short Film CornerAlice Kharoubi, director Fatih Kızılgök, and film critic Serdar Kökçeoğlu. The jury will select the Best Short Film which will be awarded 5,000 TL.

Filmmakers who want to attend the Istanbul Film Festival National Short Film Competition may apply with their films not exceeding 20 minutes and made after 1 January 2015. The deadline for applying to the National Short Film Competition is 29 January 2016. For detailed information about the online application process and regulations, please visit our website: film.iksv.org/en

On its 35th anniversary, Istanbul Film Festival will bring together film lovers, all star performers, master directors and blockbuster films from all around the world. In conjunction with the National Short Film Competition, International and National Golden Tulip competitions, National Documentary Film Competition, FACE Human Rights in Cinema and Seyfi Teoman Best Debut Film Awards will also be given in the festival.

You can also follow recent news about Istanbul Film Festival from social media:

Through the poignant medium of film, the Festival provides viewers with an understanding of the rich mosaic culture of Jews from the Middle East and greater Sephardic Diaspora. Contemporary voices steeped in history and tradition are celebrated throughout this week-long series of events, including the bestowal of the Pomegranate Award for Sephardi Artistic Excellence (recipient

PARANOID GIRLS by Pedro del Santo For Academy Award Nomination Consideration Best Picture | Best Director | Best Original Song | Best Original Score | Best Original Screenplay Best Actress | Best Actor | Best Cinematography | Best Production Design | Best Costume Design For Festival Consideration First Feature film, comedy. "The spanish independent entry to the Oscars. filmfestivals.com" Access The Online Sc...

The 66th Berlin International Film Festival will take place from February 11 to 21, 2016, but starting in January the Berlinale posters will be displayed at Potsdamer Platz and across the city to set the mood for the festival. Together with the artists of the international film world, the bear is conquering the Berlin cityscape. The six poster designs feature the fleeting encounters of individual night owls with the bear in the city, captured photographically - fixed between reality and ficti...

The first six films have now been invited to Perspektive Deutsches Kino’s small anniversary in 2016. “Fifteen years ago, when Festival Director Dieter Kosslick took office, the Perspektive Deutsches Kino section was launched for films by German newcomers,” head Linda Söffker says on the occasion of presenting this year’s selection. “Here is where they can get first recognition for what has often been a difficult quest for a unique narrative style. This is...

13 feature films produced or co-produced in 13 different countries (Australia, Chile, Germany, India, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Poland, the Russian Federation, Sweden, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Turkey and the People’s Republic of China) have already been selected to participate in competition in Generation Kplus and Generation 14plus. The full programme for Generation will be announced in mid January. The films selected thus far feature young individuals whose inner li...

With one quarter of the Panorama decided, a zeitgeisty picture emerges that has all the elements needed for a great programme: star entertainment combined with relevant themes, insights, and deliberations on the ethical and moral aspects of contemporary issues. Also included are explorations into the history of the Middle East, and excursions to Africa, Europe and the USA. In the viewings that are still underway in Berlin, further topics are reflected that confirm the present foc...

As the first film market of the year, the European Film Market (EFM), part of the 66th Berlin International Film Festival, will open its doors on February 11, 2016. The exhibition spaces at Martin-Gropius-Bau and the Marriott Hotel at Potsdamer Platz are already fully booked. In 2016, more than 8,000 producers, exhibitors, world sales, buyers and financiers are expected. The EFM is one of the most significant platforms for trade in international film rights and audiovis...

Dieter Kosslick visiting the Berlinale Street Food Market Once more the 66th Berlinale wants to whet your appetite: also for good food. For the third year the Berlinale Street Food Market will provide festival visitors with a selection of slow food treats from around the world. The food trucks will again be set up on Joseph-von-Eichendorff-Gasse at the corner of Alte Potsdamer Straße - so to speak, at the heart of the festival. “With ‘food on wheels’ in ...

The members of the Berlinale Shorts International Jury are three filmmakers and artists whose works are committed to the short film format. The Jury will award the Golden and the Silver Bear, as well as the Audi Short Film Award. It will also nominate a short film for the European Film Awards in the category Best Short Film. The prize winners of 2016 will be chosen by Sheikha Hoor Al-Qasimi (curator, director of the Sharjah Art Foundation), Katerina Gregos (curator, art historian) and Avi M...

The first nine films for the 66th Berlin International Film Festival Competition and Berlinale Special programme have been selected. Joining opening film Hail, Caesar! by Joel and Ethan Coen, which will be presented out of competition (see press release from December 4, 2015 for details), five productions and co-productions from Canada, France, Germany, United Kingdom and the US are the newest additions to the Competition programme. As part of the official programme, Berlinale Special...

> PARTNERS FESTIVAL NEWS

Early Bird January 31, 2016

The Wiper Film Festival is the premiere online film festival and includes an NYC screening. Your work will have the opportunity to be seen by more than 18 millions users around the globe.

There is no fee to submit and have your work considered. There are cash grants for Curator’s Choice and Fan Choice winners in each category. Wiper also provides free advertising and promotion budget to its top films. Submit your feature and short length work today!

1st annual FILM FESTIVAL Submission Deadline: January 1, 2016

Four days and four nights of cutting edge independent films, panels and parties. IFFNoHo celebrates the art of filmmaking, helps support a community of artists and showcases North Hollywood as an entertainment and travel destination. A film festival by filmmakers for filmmakers.

Regular Deadline January 31, 2016

NYC Independent Film Festival is a celebration of the true independent filmmaker, documentaries, short and feature-length films, music videos, and animation. During the 6th Annual Festival we gave away prizes with a total cash value of over 28,000 USD. All screenings take place in the historic center of NYC, Time Square which is the perfect home for an event geared toward creating incredible opportunities for independent voices.

Early Bird deadline February 5, 2016

The 12th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival and Film Conference/Film Market, scheduled for August 11-20, 2016 at the world famous TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, is now accepting submissions. HSFF, 4 times named to MovieMaker Magazine “Top 25 Fests Worth the Entry Fee” lists, has featured over 400 projects showcasing stars and filmmakers including Sofia Loren, Bill Plympton, Anthony and Joe Russo, and Felicia Day.

In 2015, HSFF awarded over $150,000 in prizes, including $60,000 in post services for Best Short, Director, Music Video, Cinematography, VFX, and Commercial, and $15,000 Grand Prize cash . www.hollyshorts.com

Deadline: January 15, 2016

Global Short Film Awards recognize excellence in highly creative and imaginative films under 15 minutes long. These short films will be suitable to meet the increasing content demand for intelligent phones, digital and hand held devices as well as internet, commercial, art, science and educational applications. For the premier issue, finalists and a winner will be selected in 2-D and 3-D formats in each category. Submit online No cost to enter. Winners in each category will be announced February 15-16, 2016 in New York. Winning films will be shown during the Cannes Red Carpet Fashion and Awards event at the Carlton Intercontinental Hotel in Cannes, France on May 21, 2016.

Earlybird Deadline January 17, 2015

In 2016, WoFF returns for its third edition with great energy and ideas, generated from a wonderful 2015 festival.

Our focus remains on independent cinema from all around the globe, by showcasing the work of first feature filmmakers and female directors in our two main sections, First Features and The Female Perspective, respectively.

Late Deadline January 5, 2016

Hosted by Pets in the City Magazine and Best Friends Animal Society, the PAWPARAZZI film festival coincides with the nearby Park City area Sundance film festival. PAWPARAZZI film festival is international and it is open to amateurs and professionals alike. The PAWPARAZZI Film Festival is for all species of animals large and small. The films are to provide a venue for People to protect and save animals as well as to celebrate the joy that animals bring to our lives. Submit your short films of ten minutes or less to the following categories: • Drama • Comedy • Animation • Documentary/Advocacy • Youth/Student

Submissions close january 1st, 2016

Myrtle Beach International Film Festival has been ranked one of the top 25 film festivals in the World worth the submission by Movie Maker Magazine, rankedd one of the best by Film International and billed as "The East Coast's answer to the Sundance Film Festival".

The Festival is open to all projects, with a special "Anything Goes" category. We are a truely independent film festival. MBIFF also has a budget category, so a film with a 10 thousand dollar budget does not compete against a project with a 10 million dollar budget (with the exception of the overall winner).

Deadline extended

New York Festival's World's Best TV & Films competition honors programming in all lengths and forms from over 50 countries. Dedicated to both the Television and Film industries, categories mirror today's global trends and encourage the next generation of story-tellers and talent: Animation, Comedy, Corporate, Drama, Documentary, Feature Films, Movie Trailers, Music Videos, News, Promos, Reality TV Drama, Sports, Telenovelas, Webisodes, Best Performance by an Actor/Actress, Special Event, Innovation, Technical Production Team, CSR, Best Screenplay, Video Art, and Best Host.

Montreal International Animation Film Festival FESTIVAL DATES June 2-5 2016 Montreal Canada Le MIAFF! is a people's film festival and industry conference dedicated to the art of animation for film and technology. All genres and forms are welcome. Awards & Prizes Software and other award prizes. Visibility in our travelling shows in Berlin, Cannes, Annecy, Glasgow and more. Check 2015 fantastic programming on the website.

> FILMS FOR FESTIVAL CONSIDERATION "FILMFESTIVALS.COM ONES TO WATCH ON THE CIRCUIT"

Paranoid Girls Comedy by Pedro del Santo is qualified for Oscar selection running for best film, best original song...

Ana, Paula and Veronica become fascinated by modeling and the life that it offers. Yet, they gradually begin to discover the dark side of fashion hidden behind the fame and glamour of the spotlights. The women experience downfall as they engage with an antagonistic photographer who drags models into a high stakes abyss of danger. The women learn to value friendship over the lures of fashion pitfalls and enjoy life's simplicities in the end.

over 40 festival wins so far

Eco Documentary feature film by Rob Stewart (Sharkwater)

Revolution is a film about changing the world. The true-life adventure of Rob Stewart, this follow-up to his acclaimed SHARKWATER (36 festival wins) documentary continues his remarkable journey; one that will take him through 15 countries over four years, and where he'll discover that it's not only sharks that are in grave danger -- it's humanity itself.Website I Epk on filmfestivals.com I Trailer I Email us for a screener

"ROOTED in PEACE challenges viewers to examine their values as Americans and human beings. Today we are at war within ourselves, with our environment, and with the world. Director and award-winning filmmaker Greg Reitman invites viewers on a film journey to take notice of the world we live in, proactively seek ways to find personal and ecological peace, and stop the cycle of violence".

Feature Feel Good Movie - World premiered in Montreal World Film Festival Winner best romantic comedy in Manhattan Fest

Charlie Kane can’t catch a break. He grew into a man who expects the worse out of life and gets it. But that changes when, by chance, he meets a bright, sunny sprite of a woman named Holly who turns him from a dour drip into someone finally allowing himself to be happy.Then a bus flattens her before Charlie eyes. Charlie opts for suicide but can’t even successfully give up on life. Left with no other choice, he adopts Holly’s ethos of positivity and just decides to be happy... by ignoring all the bad things in life. But his cynical best friend isn’t buying Charlie’s new-found happiness and sets out to save Charlie by making him miserable again.

> FILMS FOCUS

The sixth edition of the world's leading online French film festival, organized by Michel Gondry last year, MyFrenchFilmFestival.com has joined forces this year with the English designers' collective and magazine, Click here to download the festival poster. We'll be back soon with more details! Read more Download: Affiche MYFFF 2016 - Français.jpg Download: Affiche MYFFF 2016 - English.jpg Download: Affiche MYFFF 2016 - German.jpg Download:...

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS HAS BIGGEST OPENING DAY IN UK BOX OFFICE HISTORY RECORD AMOUNT OF PEOPLE FLOCK TO MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS OF THE HUGELY ANTICIPATED FILM FILM BROKE INDUSTRY RECORD FOR ADVANCED TICKET BOOKINGS There has been an awakening and the UK and Ireland have truly felt it with record breaking takings for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The film enjoyed not only the biggest opening day of all time but also the biggest single day in UK industry history. Op...

9 FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILMS ADVANCE IN OSCAR® RACE Nine features will advance to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 88th Academy Awards®. Eighty films had originally been considered in the category. The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are: Belgium, "The Brand New Testament," Jaco Van Dormael, director; Colombia, "Embrace of the Serpent," Ciro Guerra, director; ...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 112 scores from eligible feature-length motion pictures released in 2015 are in contention for nominations in the Original Score category for the 88th Academy Awards®. The eligible scores along with their composers are listed below, in alphabetical order by film title: "Adult Beginners," Marcelo Zarvos, composer "The Age of Adaline," Rob Simonsen, composer "Altered Minds," Edmun...

FilmNation Entertainment announced that it has acquired worldwide rights and will fully finance THE BIG SICK, which will be produced by Judd Apatow with Barry Mendel through Apatow Productions (TRAINWRECK, THIS IS 40, BRIDESMAIDS). Stand-up comedian and actor Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley) will star in the film. Based on true events in their lives, Nanjiani wrote the script with his wife, writer/producer Emily V. Gordon. Michael Showalter, who helmed the 2015 SXSW Film Festival Audience Award ...

The original 1977 version of the saga is nearly impossible to find, so these fans made their own. In 1978, Star Wars won seven Academy Awards. But if you want to watch that original version, the first of George Lucas’s soon to be seven-part saga, you’ll find it difficult. In fact, it’s actually impossible to buy an official copy of Star Wars as it was first released. Lucas doesn’t want you to see that version. Instead, he wants you to watch the continuously updated spec...

Read this online EL GATO PERSA FILMS INVITES YOU TO EXPERIENCE THE ORIGINAL COMEDY PARANOID GIRLS For Academy Award Nomination Consideration Best Picture | Best Director | Best Original Song | Best Original Score | Best Original Screenplay Best Actress | Best Actor | Best Cinematography | Best Production Design | Best Costume Design Access The Online Screener Now:

Three hundred five feature films are eligible for the 2015 Academy Awards®, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today. To be eligible for 88th Academy Awards consideration, feature films must open in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County by midnight, December 31, and begin a minimum run of seven consecutive days. Under Academy rules, a feature-length motion picture must have a running time of more than 40 minutes and must have been exhibited ...

> THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT

Launched as a film week 35 years ago by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), Istanbul Film Festival, being not only the longest-running film festival in Istanbul but also the largest-scale film event in Turkey, will celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2016. Supported by Akbank for the 12th time in a row, Istanbul Film Festival will take place between 7 -17 April 2016 thereby bringing a chapter of novelties for its 35th anniversary. A breath of fresh air in the festival: N...

Waterfront Festival of International Films is a an upcoming project of Films and Film Festivals , an initiative of JSWM Productions Films and Film Festivals is a platform for the benefit of independent filmmakers, directors, media, distributors, producers, artists, entertainment professionals, models and event Managers to interact, create and benefit from various opportunities. JSWM Productions was established in 2010, as a Content Creation, Aggregation and Production Comp...

> AWARDS WATCH

The 15th River to River Florence Indian Film Festival rings the curtain down with over 12,200 visitors. The ‘best of’ will be going to Bologna in January 2016 as part of the Cineteca’s programme and to Spazio Oberdan in Milan in February 2016 The film on the Bhopal tragedy, Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain by Ravi Kumar, wins the River to River Award as Best Film The award for best short film goes to Sarmad Masud for Two Dosas. Diya Banerjee&rs...

Honoring the Best Latin American Films of the Year THE CLUB (Chile), JAUJA and THE PRINCESS OF FRANCE (Argentina), LOS HONGOS (Colombia), and WHITE OUT, BLACK IN (Brazil) Vie for the Award for Best Film Twenty-nine films from twelve countries have been nominated in the sixth annual edition of the Cinema Tropical Awards, honoring the best of Latin American cinema of the year in six different categories: Best Feature Film; Best Documentary Film; Best Director, Feature Film; Best...

> PEOPLE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The 27th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) will present Michael Fassbender with the International Star Award, Actor at its annual Awards Gala. The Gala will also present awards to previously announced honorees Cate Blanchett, Johnny Depp, Brie Larson, Tom McCarthy and Saoirse Ronan. The Awards Gala will be hosted by Mary Hart, with presenting sponsor “Entertainment Tonight,” on Saturday, January 2, at the Palm Springs Conventio...

> STRICTLY BUSINESS

At the 23rd jury session of the World Cinema Fund (WCF), the jury recommended contributing to the funding of ten film projects. Four film projects – from Myanmar, Turkey, Chad and Senegal - were suggested for production funding. In addition, distribution funding was recommended for the German cinema release of a film from Venezuela. Within the framework of the WCF Europe programme, production funding was proposed for projects from Brazil, Argentina and Chile. ...

Filmfestivals.com was established 1995 as world reference in this niche, we are proud of our track record in helping festivals attract more legitimacy, visibility and film submissions from our large base of international film professionals (370 000 unique filmmaker visitors each month), 159 500 subscribers to the newsletter. ONE TIME OFFER We suggest this quick one month booster program for your call for entry including with 4 newsletter ads, your call for entry promoted one month lon...

The 66th Berlin International Film Festival will take place from February 11 to 21, 2016, but starting in January the Berlinale posters will be displayed at Potsdamer Platz and across the city to set the mood for the festival.

Together with the artists of the international film world, the bear is conquering the Berlin cityscape. The six poster designs feature the fleeting encounters of individual night owls with the bear in the city, captured photographically - fixed between reality and fiction.

The key-visuals were created, for the first time, by the Velvet agency.

‘The bear is loose!’

That could be the motto for this year's poster design. The bear is coming your way and, just like the Festival itself, not only to be seen at Potsdamer Platz but also in the various districts of our city,” says Festival Director Dieter Kosslick.

> PARTNERS FESTIVALS IN FOCUS

Early Bird January 31, 2016

The Wiper Film Festival is the premiere online film festival and includes an NYC screening. Your work will have the opportunity to be seen by more than 18 millions users around the globe.

There is no fee to submit and have your work considered. There are cash grants for Curator’s Choice and Fan Choice winners in each category. Wiper also provides free advertising and promotion budget to its top films.

1st annual FILM FESTIVAL Submission Deadline: January 1, 2016

Four days and four nights of cutting edge independent films, panels and parties. We seek stories that define who we are and what you care about. Stories that engage us and films that entertain and inform, break boundaries, challenge conventions, in all genres, from first-timers to industry veterans. We look forward to showcasing your work April 28 - May 1, 2016 at the NoHo Arts Center, North Hollywood, CA.

IFFNoHo supports the stories of emerging narrative and documentary filmmakers from around the world.

Deadline December 22, 2015

The International Film Festival of Panama is pleased to announce that the open call for submissions for all filmmakers who wish to apply to screen their films during the 2016 edition of the festival will be open until December 22nd, 2015.

Directors or producers of any country are invited to nominate their films. Films must run feature-length (60 minutes or longer) and must have finished production no earlier than 2014. IFF Panama will accept nominations for works of fiction, animation, experimental films, and documentaries which have not been publicly screened in the Republic of Panama.

All terms & conditions and instructions for submitting film material to IFF Panama can be found on the Festival’s official website: www.iffpanama.org.

April 27 to May 1, 2016!

Earlybird Deadline November 30, 2015

NYC Independent Film Festival is a celebration of the true independent filmmaker, documentaries, short and feature-length films, music videos, and animation. Whether a submission is comedic, dramatic, or something in between, The NYC Indie film Fest is eager to embrace fresh ideas and storytelling.

In addition to showcasing the best indie films to the entertainment industry and the NYC public, the festival will also offer a variety of prizes. During the 6th Annual Festival we gave away prizes with a total cash value of over 28,000 USD.

All screenings take place in the historic center of NYC, Time Square which is the perfect home for an event geared toward creating incredible opportunities for independent voices.

The 12th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival and Film Conference/Film Market, scheduled for August 11-20, 2016 at the world famous TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, is now accepting submissions. (www.withoutabox.com/login/4655) HSFF, 4 times named to MovieMaker Magazine “Top 25 Fests Worth the Entry Fee” lists, has featured over 400 projects showcasing stars and filmmakers including Sofia Loren, Bill Plympton, Anthony and Joe Russo, and Felicia Day.

In 2015, HSFF awarded over $150,000 in prizes, including $60,000 in post services courtesy of COMPANY 3 and METHOD STUDIOS for Best Short, Director, Music Video, Cinematography, VFX, and Commercial, and $15,000 Grand Prize cash courtesy of ZYPE. www.hollyshorts.com

Deadline: January 15, 2016

Global Short Film Awards recognize excellence in highly creative and imaginative films under 15 minutes long. These short films will be suitable to meet the increasing content demand for intelligent phones, digital and hand held devices as well as internet, commercial, art, science and educational applications. For the premier issue, finalists and a winner will be selected in 2-D and 3-D formats in each category. Submit online No cost to enter. Winners in each category will be announced February 15-16, 2016 in New York. Winning films will be shown during the Cannes Red Carpet Fashion and Awards event at the Carlton Intercontinental Hotel in Cannes, France on May 21, 2016.

Earlybird Deadline January 17, 2015

In 2016, WoFF returns for its third edition with great energy and ideas, generated from a wonderful 2015 festival.

Our focus remains on independent cinema from all around the globe, by showcasing the work of first feature filmmakers and female directors in our two main sections, First Features and The Female Perspective, respectively.

Deadline Extended

New York Festival's World's Best TV & Films competition honors programming in all lengths and forms from over 50 countries. Dedicated to both the Television and Film industries, categories mirror today's global trends and encourage the next generation of story-tellers and talent: Animation, Comedy, Corporate, Drama, Documentary, Feature Films, Movie Trailers, Music Videos, News, Promos, Reality TV Drama, Sports, Telenovelas, Webisodes, Best Performance by an Actor/Actress, Special Event, Innovation, Technical Production Team, CSR, Best Screenplay, Video Art, and Best Host.

Submissions close january 1st, 2016

Myrtle Beach International Film Festival. Ranked one of the top 25 film festivals in the World worth the submission by Movie Maker Magazine. Ranked one of the best by Film International. MBIFF billed as "The East Coast's answer to the Sundance Film Festival" is in the call for entry stage which will end January 1st 2016. The 11th annual MBIFF will take place April 20th - 23rd 2016.

This marks the 11th year for the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival. The MBIFF has continued to grow every year. We are open to all genres, and believe in the independent spirit of film . MBIFF also has a budget category, so a film with a 10 thousand dollar budget does not compete against a project with a 10 million dollar budget (with the exception of the overall winner). Selected by Movie as Maker Magazine one of the top 25 film festivals worth the submission, one of the top festivals in the world by Film International, and touted by many as one of the most important indendepent film festivals in the festival circuit . We are passionate about film and it shows!

We have selected what we feel to be the most diverse panel in the film festival circuit. From professionals to film makers, liberals to conservatives. If a panel member has a problem with the content it will be placed with a panel member that does not find a problem with content. We are looking for projects that have, a vision, a story, and are done with passion.

The MBIFF screens projects in a multi-million dollar theater, housing state of the art technology.

Hosted by Pets in the City Magazine and Best Friends Animal Society, the PAWPARAZZI film festival coincides with the nearby Park City area Sundance film festival. PAWPARAZZI film festival is international and it is open to amateurs and professionals alike. The PAWPARAZZI Film Festival is for all species of animals large and small. The films are to provide a venue for People to protect and save animals as well as to celebrate the joy that animals bring to our lives. Submit your short films of ten minutes or less to the following categories:

Final deadline is February 2, 2016.

The Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF) is presented by the Sonoma Film Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, as a welcoming, entertaining and inspiring cinematic experience that supports and promotes independent films, celebrates the cultural diversity in the Sonoma Valley through film, and funds visual arts in education.

Named one of America's "Top Ten Destination Film Festivals," Sonoma prides itself on giving every filmmaker the royal treatment. Celebrated as one of the friendliest and most uplifting festivals on the circuit. SUBMIT

Submissions close April 15, 2016

In partnership with filmfestivals.com

Montreal International Animation Film Festival is a people's film festival an dindutry conference dedicated to the art of animation for film and technology.
All genres and forms are welcome.
Software an award prize. Visibility in out travelling show in Berlin, Cannes Annecy, Glasgow and more.

PROMOTE YOUR FILM AND GET READY FOR THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT.

We can offer Festival consulting and marketing services to fit your film ambitions.

- The 500€ Festival Fast Track

The Festival Fast Track service offers you a presence in the film showcase page with links and video streaming. The Film promotion Showcase is a combination of online services, (charged 500€ or about $690) that will bring recognition from our international audience who trust us as the only international media totally dedicated to the festival circuit. The Film promotion Showcase includes all those features:

Palm Springs, CA– The 27th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) today announced its line-up of Premieres, New Voices/New Visions competition and Modern Masters. Films from 60 countries, including 54 premieres (7 World, 17 North American and 30 U.S.), will unspool at the Festival, running from January 1-11, 2016 in Palm Springs, California.

“The line-up this year, while full of unexpected surprises, vividly reflects what is going on in the world around us,” said Festival Director Darryl Macdonald. “There’s a particular focus on stories about displaced people – immigrants, emigrants, refugees, those seeking asylum or shelter. There’s a concurrent trend toward stories revolving around new beginnings and escaping the shackles of the past, whether sexual, cultural, societal or self-imposed. Balancing all of these is a focus on family and romance, along with films involving a healthy dose of magic realism or absurdist comedy, and a plethora of exceptional films dealing with the usual obsessions – music, food, sex and art. All in all, it’s about as well-rounded, as thoughtfully chosen, and as provocative as it’s possible for a smartly curated lineup of new international cinema to be.”

“I am thrilled at the breadth and depth of this year’s program,” said Festival Artistic Director Helen du Toit. “While Modern Masters showcases such widely acclaimed filmmakers as as Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Barbara Kopple and Terence Davies, our New Voices/New Visions program is evidence that new masters are emerging around the world. The range of approaches is extraordinary. Highlights include Raam Reddy's Thithi (India), which skillfully juggles myriad characters in a delightful low key comedy; Yorgos Zois’ Interruption (Greece), which challenges the audience with a complex and highly compelling narrative; and Maris Curran's Five Nights in Maine (USA), featuring David Oyelowo's nuanced and heartbreaking performance as a widower reconnecting with his estranged mother-in-law.”

Showcasing the diversity of international cinema, Festival premieres will include:

World premieres: 50 Days in the Desert (Luxembourg) directed by Fabrizio Maltese, Agnes(Germany/Belgium), the documentary Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age (US) featuring Alec Baldwin, Carol Channing, Dick Van Dyke, Jane Fonda and Robert Redford, The Carer (Hungary/UK), Going Going Gone (UK),Searchdog (US) and Set the Thames on Fire (UK).

The New Voices/New Visions competition showcases 12 US premieres from top emerging international directors marking their feature film debut at the Festival, with the additional criteria that the films selected are currently without U.S. distribution. The winner is selected by a jury of U.S. distributors which include Gary Rubin of Cohen Media, Dan Berger of Oscilloscope and Ryan Kampe of Visit Films/Monument Releasing. The winner will receive use of a $60,000 Panavision camera package and a glass sculpture designed for the Festival by renowned artist Dale Chihuly. Films selected for this year include:

Banat (Italy/Romania/Bulgaria/Macedonia), Director Adriano Valerio

Death By Death (Belgium/France), Director Xavier Seron

Departure (UK/France), Director Andrew Steggall

Five Nights in Maine (US), Director Maris Curran and starring David Oyelowo

The Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) is one of the largest film festivals in North America, welcoming 135,000 attendees last year for its lineup of new and celebrated international features and documentaries. The Festival is also known for its annual Black Tie Awards Gala, honoring the best achievements of the filmic year by a celebrated list of talents who, in recent years, have included Ben Affleck, Javier Bardem, Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Bradley Cooper, George Clooney, Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Matthew McConaughey, Julianne Moore, Brad Pitt, Eddie Redmayne, Julia Roberts, David O. Russell, Meryl Streep, and Reese Witherspoon.

> PARTNERS FESTIVAL NEWS

Early Bird January 31, 2016

The Wiper Film Festival is the premiere online film festival and includes an NYC screening. Your work will have the opportunity to be seen by more than 18 millions users around the globe.

There is no fee to submit and have your work considered. There are cash grants for Curator’s Choice and Fan Choice winners in each category. Wiper also provides free advertising and promotion budget to its top films. Submit your feature and short length work today!

1st annual FILM FESTIVAL Submission Deadline: January 1, 2016

Four days and four nights of cutting edge independent films, panels and parties. IFFNoHo celebrates the art of filmmaking, helps support a community of artists and showcases North Hollywood as an entertainment and travel destination. A film festival by filmmakers for filmmakers.

Regular Deadline January 31, 2016

NYC Independent Film Festival is a celebration of the true independent filmmaker, documentaries, short and feature-length films, music videos, and animation. During the 6th Annual Festival we gave away prizes with a total cash value of over 28,000 USD. All screenings take place in the historic center of NYC, Time Square which is the perfect home for an event geared toward creating incredible opportunities for independent voices.

Early Bird deadline February 5, 2016

The 12th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival and Film Conference/Film Market, scheduled for August 11-20, 2016 at the world famous TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, is now accepting submissions. HSFF, 4 times named to MovieMaker Magazine “Top 25 Fests Worth the Entry Fee” lists, has featured over 400 projects showcasing stars and filmmakers including Sofia Loren, Bill Plympton, Anthony and Joe Russo, and Felicia Day.

In 2015, HSFF awarded over $150,000 in prizes, including $60,000 in post services for Best Short, Director, Music Video, Cinematography, VFX, and Commercial, and $15,000 Grand Prize cash . www.hollyshorts.com

Deadline: January 15, 2016

Global Short Film Awards recognize excellence in highly creative and imaginative films under 15 minutes long. These short films will be suitable to meet the increasing content demand for intelligent phones, digital and hand held devices as well as internet, commercial, art, science and educational applications. For the premier issue, finalists and a winner will be selected in 2-D and 3-D formats in each category. Submit online No cost to enter. Winners in each category will be announced February 15-16, 2016 in New York. Winning films will be shown during the Cannes Red Carpet Fashion and Awards event at the Carlton Intercontinental Hotel in Cannes, France on May 21, 2016.

Earlybird Deadline January 17, 2015

In 2016, WoFF returns for its third edition with great energy and ideas, generated from a wonderful 2015 festival.

Our focus remains on independent cinema from all around the globe, by showcasing the work of first feature filmmakers and female directors in our two main sections, First Features and The Female Perspective, respectively.

Late Deadline January 5, 2016

Hosted by Pets in the City Magazine and Best Friends Animal Society, the PAWPARAZZI film festival coincides with the nearby Park City area Sundance film festival. PAWPARAZZI film festival is international and it is open to amateurs and professionals alike. The PAWPARAZZI Film Festival is for all species of animals large and small. The films are to provide a venue for People to protect and save animals as well as to celebrate the joy that animals bring to our lives. Submit your short films of ten minutes or less to the following categories: • Drama • Comedy • Animation • Documentary/Advocacy • Youth/Student

Submissions close january 1st, 2016

Myrtle Beach International Film Festival has been ranked one of the top 25 film festivals in the World worth the submission by Movie Maker Magazine, rankedd one of the best by Film International and billed as "The East Coast's answer to the Sundance Film Festival".

The Festival is open to all projects, with a special "Anything Goes" category. We are a truely independent film festival. MBIFF also has a budget category, so a film with a 10 thousand dollar budget does not compete against a project with a 10 million dollar budget (with the exception of the overall winner).

Deadline extended

New York Festival's World's Best TV & Films competition honors programming in all lengths and forms from over 50 countries. Dedicated to both the Television and Film industries, categories mirror today's global trends and encourage the next generation of story-tellers and talent: Animation, Comedy, Corporate, Drama, Documentary, Feature Films, Movie Trailers, Music Videos, News, Promos, Reality TV Drama, Sports, Telenovelas, Webisodes, Best Performance by an Actor/Actress, Special Event, Innovation, Technical Production Team, CSR, Best Screenplay, Video Art, and Best Host.

Montreal International Animation Film Festival FESTIVAL DATES June 2-5 2016 Montreal Canada Le MIAFF! is a people's film festival and industry conference dedicated to the art of animation for film and technology. All genres and forms are welcome. Awards & Prizes Software and other award prizes. Visibility in our travelling shows in Berlin, Cannes, Annecy, Glasgow and more. Check 2015 fantastic programming on the website.

> FILMS FOR FESTIVAL CONSIDERATION "FILMFESTIVALS.COM ONES TO WATCH ON THE CIRCUIT"

Paranoid Girls Comedy by Pedro del Santo is qualified for Oscar selection running for best film, best original song...

Ana, Paula and Veronica become fascinated by modeling and the life that it offers. Yet, they gradually begin to discover the dark side of fashion hidden behind the fame and glamour of the spotlights. The women experience downfall as they engage with an antagonistic photographer who drags models into a high stakes abyss of danger. The women learn to value friendship over the lures of fashion pitfalls and enjoy life's simplicities in the end.

over 40 festival wins so far

Eco Documentary feature film by Rob Stewart (Sharkwater)

Revolution is a film about changing the world. The true-life adventure of Rob Stewart, this follow-up to his acclaimed SHARKWATER (36 festival wins) documentary continues his remarkable journey; one that will take him through 15 countries over four years, and where he'll discover that it's not only sharks that are in grave danger -- it's humanity itself.Website I Epk on filmfestivals.com I Trailer I Email us for a screener

"ROOTED in PEACE challenges viewers to examine their values as Americans and human beings. Today we are at war within ourselves, with our environment, and with the world. Director and award-winning filmmaker Greg Reitman invites viewers on a film journey to take notice of the world we live in, proactively seek ways to find personal and ecological peace, and stop the cycle of violence".

Feature Feel Good Movie - World premiered in Montreal World Film Festival Winner best romantic comedy in Manhattan Fest

Charlie Kane can’t catch a break. He grew into a man who expects the worse out of life and gets it. But that changes when, by chance, he meets a bright, sunny sprite of a woman named Holly who turns him from a dour drip into someone finally allowing himself to be happy.Then a bus flattens her before Charlie eyes. Charlie opts for suicide but can’t even successfully give up on life. Left with no other choice, he adopts Holly’s ethos of positivity and just decides to be happy... by ignoring all the bad things in life. But his cynical best friend isn’t buying Charlie’s new-found happiness and sets out to save Charlie by making him miserable again.

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• First ever BUFF awards to be shown free-to-air on Sky, Freeview & Freesat • Illusions Cosmetics to sponsor 60 minute highlights package on Wednesday 27 January • Richard Pryor tribute forms centrepiece of ceremony from London's Cinema Museum The 2015 British Urban Film Festival awards will be broadcast for the first time in January as part of a new deal agreed with free-to-air broadcaster Showcase Television. Highlights coverage will be sponsored by ma...

The Danish Girl -- features Versatile British actor Eddie Redmayne's followup to last years Best Actor Oscar as wheelcheer bound Cambridge genius Stephen Hawking -- could a second consecutive Oscar be in the offing? A competition entry at Venice 2015 "The Danish Girl" is co-directed by 46 year old Englishman Tom Hooper (The King's Speech, 2010) and Swedish veteran Lasse Hallström, 69 (My Life as a Dog) -- B...

Twice during the Mumbai première screening, entries were greeted with whistles—once when Harrison Ford (Han Solo) entered his spaceship, right of frame to left, accompanied by Chewbacca, and the second time when R2-D2 was shown in the right corner, with C-3PO leading us to him. The audience included Indian superstar-director-producer Aamir Khan and his director wife, Kiran Rao, though it is impossible to ascertain whether the applauders included this couple. Both the applauded ch...

Read this online EL GATO PERSA FILMS INVITES YOU TO EXPERIENCE THE ORIGINAL COMEDY PARANOID GIRLS For Academy Award Nomination Consideration Best Picture | Best Director | Best Original Song | Best Original Score | Best Original Screenplay Best Actress | Best Actor | Best Cinematography | Best Production Design | Best Costume Design Access The Online Screener Now: https://www.vimeo.com/148960222 Password: ParanoidGirls

The 66th Berlin International Film Festival will take place from February 11 to 21, 2016, but starting in January the Berlinale posters will be displayed at Potsdamer Platz and across the city to set the mood for the festival. Together with the artists of the international film world, the bear is conquering the Berlin cityscape. The six poster designs feature the fleeting encounters of individual night owls with the bear in the city, captured photographically - fixed between reality and ficti...

> AWARDS WATCH

The 15th River to River Florence Indian Film Festival rings the curtain down with over 12,200 visitors. The ‘best of’ will be going to Bologna in January 2016 as part of the Cineteca’s programme and to Spazio Oberdan in Milan in February 2016 The film on the Bhopal tragedy, Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain by Ravi Kumar, wins the River to River Award as Best Film The award for best short film goes to Sarmad Masud for Two Dosas. Diya Banerjee&rs...

Honoring the Best Latin American Films of the Year THE CLUB (Chile), JAUJA and THE PRINCESS OF FRANCE (Argentina), LOS HONGOS (Colombia), and WHITE OUT, BLACK IN (Brazil) Vie for the Award for Best Film Twenty-nine films from twelve countries have been nominated in the sixth annual edition of the Cinema Tropical Awards, honoring the best of Latin American cinema of the year in six different categories: Best Feature Film; Best Documentary Film; Best Director, Feature Film; Best...

> PEOPLE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Ridley Scott to Present “The Martian” Star his Award in Palm Springs Palm Springs, CA– The 27th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) will present Matt Damon with the Chairman’s Award at its annual Awards Gala. This year’s Awards Gala will be hosted by Mary Hart on Saturday, January 2 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The Festival runs January 1-11. “Since ...

> STRICTLY BUSINESS

At the 23rd jury session of the World Cinema Fund (WCF), the jury recommended contributing to the funding of ten film projects. Four film projects – from Myanmar, Turkey, Chad and Senegal - were suggested for production funding. In addition, distribution funding was recommended for the German cinema release of a film from Venezuela. Within the framework of the WCF Europe programme, production funding was proposed for projects from Brazil, Argentina and Chile. ...

Filmfestivals.com was established 1995 as world reference in this niche, we are proud of our track record in helping festivals attract more legitimacy, visibility and film submissions from our large base of international film professionals (370 000 unique filmmaker visitors each month), 159 500 subscribers to the newsletter. ONE TIME OFFER We suggest this quick one month booster program for your call for entry including with 4 newsletter ads, your call for entry promoted one month lon...

Writersandfilmmakers.com is introducing usefull services for filmmakers! We call it the “Exchange” and it should be live in about a week!

List props you need for your next film!

List your past or current films and posters for marketing purposes.

Audience members can lend props, time, locations etc by describing them and/or taking a photo of the item.

Oh, and it’s free, free free!

Let us know how you think we can improve this idea. We think there are plenty of people who can lend free items to an indie film production (well, maybe not in LA). They are easy to spot, they stand in long lines to see movies at festivals.

The tenth edition of the Romania film festival with new and well established older films was held by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Romanian Film Initiative from December 2-7. The best of current Romanian film making including feature films, documentaries and shorts were presented. It also brought back some classic landmark films like Poi’s THE DEATH OF MR. LAZARESCU and Nemescu’s CALIFORNIA DREAMING. Panels focused on Romanian filmmakers and a special program Creative Freedom Through Cinema analyzed the link between art and politics in Eastern Europe with films from Georgia and Moldova. The program included 25 productions.

Two documentaries covered the migration of large members of ethnic groups to Israel and Germany. The superbly researched film ALIYAH DADA (Romania, 2014) by Oana Giurgiu provided an exhaustive perspective of Romanian Jews settling in Israel from the first immigrants at the end of the 19th century to the Ceausescu’s dictatorship allowing Jews to leave against provision of cash or services from Israel and other sources. Altogether 400 million dollars were paid, though no trace of the money was found after the regime broke down. Interviews and archival documentation gave an excellent overview of the history of Jews during different phases of Romania, characterized by frequent periods of oppression and discrimination.

TRADING GERMANS by Razvan Georgescu (Romania/Germany, 2014) co-produced by HB0 Romania tells a similar story. Germans started settling as farmers in Romania in the 12th century, growing into a large minority with its own culture and institutions by the 20th century. But they faced grave obstacles when World War II ended and the communists took power. 175,000 were coerced into forced labor and German owned land was expropriated. With no prospects for a better life in Romania a growing part of the German minority tried to leave but was not allowed until a hidden deal was worked out between the Romanian secret service and intermediaries working for the German government with approval by top German politicians. Arranged through the undercover operator Heinz Guenther Huesch the trade lasted from 1969 to 1989 and 246,000 ethnic Germans left Romania. Freedom was purchased by paying between 2-6,000 deutschmarks per person and in special cases up to 70,000 DM. The ransom was called an education tax (Ausbildungssteuer) but no lists identified the migrants who were sold. Only numbers were kept for these covert transactions. During the cold war and trading period Romania enjoyed excellent relations with Germany. Interviews with those who left revealed mixed reactions. Many did not experience a sense of homeland in their new country. Some were appalled by the pervasive consumerism there. Others could not embrace the German identity because their emotional ties with Romania endured.

TOTO AND HIS SISTERS, Alexander Nanau, Romania, 2014. With the father nowhere to be seen and the mother spending time in prison for trafficking drugs, her children, 10 year old Toto and two teenage sisters, survive in a rundown Bucharest apartment which has been transformed into a shooting gallery for neighbors, youngsters and relatives. One sister, Ana is arrested for dealing drugs and spends time in Jail, the other Andrea takes care of Toto and they spend time in a shelter for homeless children. When their mother is released from prison, Andrea and her brother tell her that they prefer staying in the shelter over living with her. This documentary uses some footage shot by the children and explores in a most realistic manner the disturbing existence of children in drug infested families living in urban slums without an exit except for shelters.

AFERIM, Radu Jude, Romania/Bulgaria/Czech Republic, 2015. Aferim is a startling feature in black and white revealing a mostly unknown feature of Romania in the 19thCentury, gypsy slavery. A police man and his son are tracking down in Southern Romania a slave who had been involved with his master’s wife and fled. Based on historical material and an actual case, the film uses the language of the documents and faithfully records in the visual representations detailed manners, lifestyles and settings of the period. Aferim provides an excellent ethnographic introduction to the common enslavement of gypsies, the contempt for them and the brutality they endured. Delivering the slave to the master, the bounty hunter collects the ransom but suggests that his life be saved. He is supported by the wife who admits to have initiated the encounter. The master castrates the slave. Radu Jude received the best director prize at the Berlinale.

CORN ISLAND, George Ovashvili, Georgia/Germany/France, 2014. Escaping poverty a farmer and his granddaughter grow corn on a small temporary island emerging each winter in a river between Georgia and Kazakhstan. The film records the construction of a simple hut where both live, the cultivation, the planting of the corn and the harvest. They are caught up in the conflict between soldiers from both countries, the stress caused by a wounded young soldier who seeks refuge with them, and eventually the rising river which threatens the harvest. Corn Island is a startling minimalist film venture that relies on a simple austere story narrated in a precise yet subdued mode. Compared to most current films Corn Island is a refreshing experience since there are no superfluous visual or emotional embellishments or melodramatic elements. This cinematic approach is reinforced by the absence of dialogue; exchanges are restricted to sporadic statements. The film received the top prize in Karlovy Vary.

BUCHAREST NONSTOP, Dan Chisu. Romania, 2015. Four interconnected stories over one night show the experience of several ordinary colorful people in urban Bucharest tied together by a small 24 hour store whose owner is witness to their tales. The film centers on their aspirations, fears and failures. There is the prostitute who is unable to escape with the help of her taxi driver friend from the clutches of her pimp, two young lovers who have a hard time connecting because a cellphone does not work, a couple of young hoodlums who fail in their accident fraud scheme because fake money is handed to them, and the sad story of a querulous elderly couple. The wife dies suddenly and the husband in his old army uniform desperately looks for a candle he promised to light if she passes. The stories are a touching portrait of extraordinary realities ordinary people face in their everyday life.

The 2015 edition of Making Waves presented again an impressive selection of Romanian films repeating the success of past festivals.

Please note Animaze 2016 edition Montreal will be taking place August 18-21, 2016.

Animaze is happy to attend Berlinale 2016 seeking feature length animation film, shorts, as well as interactive projects for our festival in August 18-21 in Montreal Quebec Canada. Films with more than 35% VFX (excluding credits) are also welcome to submit.

Two national awards, one for the best film in its language (Haryanvi, spoken in the north Indian state of Haryana, which shares its capital Chandigarh with Punjab) and another for best supporting actress do not contribute to a completely predictable story that drags for far too long. Pagadi (meaning turban), also titled Pagadi—The Honour, is about the heartless custom of killing young men and women who fall in love with members of another community, and is termed ‘honour killing’, for marrying into another community would bring dishonor to the families. Director Rajeev Bhatia assisted Ketan Mehta and Mukul S. Anand, but it doesn’t show. What is seen is a TV style narrative (Bhatia has directed some 25 TV serials), with few elements to praise, except for the laudable cause. It’s his debut film, so we hope he will mature.

The moment you have a mentally or physically challenged character as your lead, audiences tend to overlook film-making lapses. Not when those lapses are as loud and blatant as in Bhidu (‘partner’, in Marathi and Mumbai slang). Actor-writer-director Milind Shinde, in his second directorial foray, is all over the place. He is not a bad actor and tries hard to infuse his differently-abled character with some life. But you cannot help feeling that he does not fit the role. Again, there was no need to cast a 35 looking actress as his 60 looking mother. As Shinde admitted himself, the editor has salvaged by inserting NG (not good) takes, not entirely a commendable idea.

If you want to know what an over-the-top Kannada film looks like, Marana Dandane (Death Sentence) is the film for you. Stock characters, stagey performances, deafening dialogue, contortionists galore… it has them all. Most cineastes will find it impossible to sit through the 115 minutes that this sentence lasts. In terms of cinematic treatment, it is a hark-back to the days of the 40s/50s. Writer-director Barguru Ramchandrappa is 68, and probably very nostalgic.

Iranian films dominated this section of the festival, both in terms of quantity and quality. Mirror and Water was a good example. It won the Best Short Film Award at the 3rd Wimbledon Shorts, a London short film festival that took place in England on July 10 and 11 last year. The film, directed by Kurdish filmmaker Bijan Zamanpira, is about an itinerant, rural showman, who makes a good living from people who want to look at themselves in his mirror. Everything goes well until a rival, with better technology, forces him to “reflect” on his future. Novel idea, as is the norm with Iranian script-writers, and high level of competence.

Brilliant is the word to describe Babak Habibifar’s The Fish and I (Iran). Habibifar has acted and donned many other hats as well. A simple, short tale about a blind man who accidentally breaks his fish-bowl and then gets down to saving the fish’s life rising way above his visual impairment. The catalogue says 6 min, but it felt like 2 min. Excellent camerawork and editing too.

The Season of Return (Abbas Amini) is a 13-minute short about a boy who accidentally kills a man, on the very day his father is due to be released from prison. Fearing obvious consequences, he and his friends devise a plan, to save him from the obvious consequences. Not brilliant, though watchable.

A brief idea gets 3 minutes of screen time in Help (Mahdieh Ahmadi Soleymani), about a boy suffering from cerebral palsy who liberates a fish from what he sees as the suffocating confinement in water, since he feels suffocated under the shower. The Seventh Day (Bita Elamin) spreads its seven days years apart. A couple is on the verge of separation, when they discover that the woman is pregnant, with twins, a boy and girl, and one of them must die to save her. Bita Elamin imparts good treatment, but the con-incidence is a bit far-fetched.

Babak Safshekan’s Borj (also written as Burj)/The Tower is about a real estate broker. He shows a flat to a lady, but she shows preference for another flat, in a tower. He is the broker for that flat too, and is it is empty, but suddenly he sees a woman flitting around there. It is a suspense story, with a climactic twist that will have you chuckling. Short-story writer, director and editor Safshekan is an M.A. in Cinema from the Tehran Art University.

To select the top two films, TEAFF had three judges. All three doubled up, since Mohan Agashe was attending as co-producer and lead actor of Astu/So Be It (Marathi), Manju Borah had her film Dau Huduni Methai/ Song of the Horned Owl (Assamese; Bodo language) and Cacoly Shahneoyaj came with Nodijon/The River of Colour (BanglaDesh). I saw Astu and wrote about it in my earlier piece, I have seen Dau Huduni Methai at another festival, earlier. Coming to The River of Colour, it was not possible to stay on for this 135 minute film, scheduled for an 8 pm show. She insisted that I should not only see it, but write a review full of unbridled praise. I offered to interview her instead, but she claimed her diary was full.

Their verdict put Broken Image in the second place. A photographer finds himself in the not so uncommon dilemma of getting good pictures or saving the victim of a heinous crime. An Indian entry, directed by V.K. Arvind and set in South India, it a well-made film. Did it deserve the second position? Debatable.

On the other hand, there was little doubt about the Iranian film Ice Water, by Jalal Seyyedpanahi, winning the Best Short Film award. The film recounts the story of an old man, an ice vendor, who knows better than anyone else how to save water from the droplets melting from ice. He gets water from ice and ice from water in a cycle which has become a part of his life. In October 2015, it competed in the Izmir Short Film Festival. Iran's Cultural Attaché in Mumbai, Mehdi Zare, received the award on behalf of Seyyedpanahi. Obviously, modest film festivals cannot fly winners down just to give them awards.

> PARTNERS FESTIVALS IN FOCUS

Extended deadline January 11, 2016

The American Documentary Film Festival and Film Fund (AmDocs) is one of the largest Docs only festivals in the United States, located near the media capital of Hollywood in beautiful Palm Springs. This unique event focuses on international films in both the short and feature categories as well as showcasing animation. In conjunction with the festival is the American Documentary Film Fund where U.S. filmmakers compete for start-up or finishing funds in order to complete their film masterpieces. AmDocs, seeing the bigger picture, one film at a time. "AmDocs is one of the world's top 25 film festivals worth the entry fee."​ MovieMaker Magazine

Early Bird January 31, 2016

The Wiper Film Festival is the premiere online film festival and includes an NYC screening. Your work will have the opportunity to be seen by more than 18 millions users around the globe.

There is no fee to submit and have your work considered. There are cash grants for Curator’s Choice and Fan Choice winners in each category. Wiper also provides free advertising and promotion budget to its top films.

1st annual FILM FESTIVAL Submission Deadline: January 1, 2016

Four days and four nights of cutting edge independent films, panels and parties. We seek stories that define who we are and what you care about. Stories that engage us and films that entertain and inform, break boundaries, challenge conventions, in all genres, from first-timers to industry veterans. We look forward to showcasing your work April 28 - May 1, 2016 at the NoHo Arts Center, North Hollywood, CA.

IFFNoHo supports the stories of emerging narrative and documentary filmmakers from around the world.

Deadline December 22, 2015

The International Film Festival of Panama is pleased to announce that the open call for submissions for all filmmakers who wish to apply to screen their films during the 2016 edition of the festival will be open until December 22nd, 2015.

Directors or producers of any country are invited to nominate their films. Films must run feature-length (60 minutes or longer) and must have finished production no earlier than 2014. IFF Panama will accept nominations for works of fiction, animation, experimental films, and documentaries which have not been publicly screened in the Republic of Panama.

All terms & conditions and instructions for submitting film material to IFF Panama can be found on the Festival’s official website: www.iffpanama.org.

April 27 to May 1, 2016!

Late deadline February 15, 2016

NYC Independent Film Festival is a celebration of the true independent filmmaker, documentaries, short and feature-length films, music videos, and animation. Whether a submission is comedic, dramatic, or something in between, The NYC Indie film Fest is eager to embrace fresh ideas and storytelling.

In addition to showcasing the best indie films to the entertainment industry and the NYC public, the festival will also offer a variety of prizes. During the 6th Annual Festival we gave away prizes with a total cash value of over 28,000 USD.

All screenings take place in the historic center of NYC, Time Square which is the perfect home for an event geared toward creating incredible opportunities for independent voices.

Early Bird deadline February 5, 2016

The 12th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival and Film Conference/Film Market, scheduled for August 11-20, 2016 at the world famous TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, is now accepting submissions. (www.withoutabox.com/login/4655) HSFF, 4 times named to MovieMaker Magazine “Top 25 Fests Worth the Entry Fee” lists, has featured over 400 projects showcasing stars and filmmakers including Sofia Loren, Bill Plympton, Anthony and Joe Russo, and Felicia Day.

In 2015, HSFF awarded over $150,000 in prizes, including $60,000 in post services courtesy of COMPANY 3 and METHOD STUDIOS for Best Short, Director, Music Video, Cinematography, VFX, and Commercial, and $15,000 Grand Prize cash courtesy of ZYPE. www.hollyshorts.com

Deadline: January 15, 2016

Global Short Film Awards recognize excellence in highly creative and imaginative films under 15 minutes long. These short films will be suitable to meet the increasing content demand for intelligent phones, digital and hand held devices as well as internet, commercial, art, science and educational applications. For the premier issue, finalists and a winner will be selected in 2-D and 3-D formats in each category. Submit online No cost to enter. Winners in each category will be announced February 15-16, 2016 in New York. Winning films will be shown during the Cannes Red Carpet Fashion and Awards event at the Carlton Intercontinental Hotel in Cannes, France on May 21, 2016.

Earlybird Deadline January 17, 2015

In 2016, WoFF returns for its third edition with great energy and ideas, generated from a wonderful 2015 festival.

Our focus remains on independent cinema from all around the globe, by showcasing the work of first feature filmmakers and female directors in our two main sections, First Features and The Female Perspective, respectively.

Deadline Extended

New York Festival's World's Best TV & Films competition honors programming in all lengths and forms from over 50 countries. Dedicated to both the Television and Film industries, categories mirror today's global trends and encourage the next generation of story-tellers and talent: Animation, Comedy, Corporate, Drama, Documentary, Feature Films, Movie Trailers, Music Videos, News, Promos, Reality TV Drama, Sports, Telenovelas, Webisodes, Best Performance by an Actor/Actress, Special Event, Innovation, Technical Production Team, CSR, Best Screenplay, Video Art, and Best Host.

Submissions close April 15, 2016

In partnership with filmfestivals.com

Montreal International Animation Film Festival is a people's film festival an dindutry conference dedicated to the art of animation for film and technology.
All genres and forms are welcome.
Software an award prize. Visibility in out travelling show in Berlin, Cannes Annecy, Glasgow and more.

PROMOTE YOUR FILM AND GET READY FOR THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT.

We can offer Festival consulting and marketing services to fit your film ambitions.

- The 500€ Festival Fast Track

The Festival Fast Track service offers you a presence in the film showcase page with links and video streaming. The Film promotion Showcase is a combination of online services, (charged 500€ or about $690) that will bring recognition from our international audience who trust us as the only international media totally dedicated to the festival circuit. The Film promotion Showcase includes all those features:

The selection process for the 11th Forum Expanded programme is nearly complete. Film and video works of different lengths will once again be screened at the Akademie der Künste on Hanseatenweg and the Arsenal cinema at Potsdamer Platz. The group exhibition of additional film works will take place again in the three halls of the Akademie der Künste. The Marshall McLuhan Salon of the Embassy of Canada and silent green Kulturquartier will also each house one video installation.

The theme of this year’s Forum Expanded is “Traversing the Phantasm”. The programme sees experimental and artists’ film as a form of traversing real and imaginary territories that are manifested in (geo-)
political realities and the fantastical constructs symptomatic of capitalist consumerist societies alike. The question also arises here as to what changes this type of traversing can and must trigger within us: what traces can be left behind by an art or film event? In reference to theoretician Jacques Lacan, the concept of the phantasm is reflected in numerous different ways, including in the sense of working through archives, social and political themes or collective fantasies.

Angela Melitopoulos’s four-channel video installation The Refrain thus examines the function of the refrain in marking out a territory in artistic terms. The post-war history of Okinawa and the South Korean island of Jeju established a staunch peace movement and anti-militarisation campaign along the axis between US Army bases on Japanese and Korean soil in the East China Sea, a movement in which protest songs play a significant role.

Al Marhala Al Rabiaa (The Fourth Stage), a video work by Ahmad Ghossein shot in southern Lebanon, is an account of the disappearance of an old magician and of new monuments that appear in the landscape. Both this film and a lecture performance entitled When the Ventriloquist Came and Spoke to Me trace the contemporary ideologies and mythologies that connect new narratives with visual forms and reshape geopolitical landscapes.

Film prints and video tapes that were re-discovered, thought lost, suffered degradation or were never actually completed are the subject of a series of events that include guests and works from Nigeria, Afghanistan, Jordan, Cyprus and Indonesia. As a continuation of the “Visionary Archive” project presented in 2015, the question here is once again how encounters with archives generate phantasms and history is projected into the present and future.

The Think:Film Award was established in 2014 in cooperation with Cimatheque, Cairo. The award is supported by the Allianz Kulturstiftung and the Goethe-Institut, and will be given to three short and three feature-length films from the Forum and Forum Expanded programmes.

The jury is made up of members of the NAAS network, an association of art-house cinemas, film clubs and initiatives from the Arab world that are dedicated to artists’ film. The prize winners will be presented at the NAAS member cinemas.

The 25th Anniversary New York Jewish Film Festival will be held at the Walter Reade Theater and Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center in Lincoln Center, New York, January 13-26, 2016. This year's silver jubilee presented by the Jewish Museum and the Film Society of Lincoln Center, will showcase over 30 prestigious independent films from around the globe including special presentations, anniversary screening by filmmaker Todd Solondz, musical events, panel discussions and free events.

The 6th Annual HorrorQuest Film Festival is now accepting submissions for 2016. HorrorQuest considers itself a "Horror & Genre" festival and is seeking submissions in the following catagories... Horror, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Dark Comedy, Music Video *if it has a horror/genre theme*, Documentary *If it is Horror/Genre related*. or Animation of any kind.

Late Submissions Deadline for Leeds Young Film Festival is Friday 29th January 2016

Made a film for a young audience? Or are at the start of your career in film yourself? Leeds Young Film Festival supports young and old, emerging or established, national and international filmmakers and hosts competitions both for short films BY young people, and for short and feature films FOR young people. Young independent filmmakers from the UK have the chance to win £500 worth of cash prizes.

Leeds Young Film Festival takes place over a week every Easter and welcomes young people and their families to the largest film event of its kind in the north of England. Now in its 17th year, the festival features a programme of the best new and unseen cinema for young people from around the world, made both for and by young people, as well as classic screenings, moving-image related workshops and masterclasses. It takes place in three of the city’s most loved venues and is the highlight for film lovers, filmmakers and film stars to be from the age of five years upwards.

Tickets and passes are available to purchase now. To purchase tickets to individual films, follow the links below. For the best value, we recommend a full festival pass. Those can be purchased HERE.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11:Open Bethlehemat 7:00pm
Directed by Leila Sansour
Palestine | Documentary | English | 2014 | 92 min
Director Leila Sansour will be in attendance to introduce the film and lead a Q&A afterward. There will be a pre-screening reception beginning at 6:00pm.

In Search of Israeli Cuisine at 3:00pm
Directed by Roger Sherman
USA | Mostly English | Documentary | 2016 | 97 min
Director Roger Sherman will be in attendance to introduce the film and lead a Q&A afterward. There will be a tasting reception of Israeli/Palestinian food immediately following the screening.

Panavision, the entertainment industry’s leading designer, manufacturer and rental provider of high-precision optics and camera systems, has reached a distribution agreement with Ludwig Kameraverleih in Germany. The highly regarded rental facility will now be able to provide filmmakers in the region with Panavision’s extensive range of spherical and anamorphic lenses, including the popular Primo 70 series for larger sensor digital cameras. This partnership deepens Ludwig’s portfolio of filmmaking gear and broadens Panavision’s reach.

“It was important for Panavision to find a respected partner like Ludwig Kamera that shares our attention to customer service and detail,” says Jeff Allen, Panavision’s managing director for Europe. “Distributing our high-performance optics for digital cameras through Ludwig allows us to support filmmakers more effectively and efficiently in the region, which has seen a spike in production.”

Regional and national government entities have taken progressive steps to make Germany an attractive location for international productions. Increased funding and the recent announcement of the expansion of Studio Babelsberg are just a few incentives designed to draw filmmakers to the area. Ludwig Kamera has locations throughout Germany, including Berlin, Cologne, Munich, Leipzig, Hamburg and Erfurt.

Martin Ludwig, founder and CEO of Ludwig Kameraverleih, and his highly skilled team have in-depth background knowledge of the German film and TV industry and are known for their high-quality equipment and services. “Teaming up with Panavision is an important milestone for us” says Ludwig. “It broadens our possibilities of service, and allows us to support national as well as international projects with the widest and best range of equipment available.”

Panavision has been an integral part of the motion picture and television industry for 60 years, servicing many of the big screen’s most iconic films including Ben Hur, Lawrence of Arabia, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, to more recent hits as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Spectre, and Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, among many others.

Panavision currently operates offices in key European cities, including Warsaw, Prague, Paris, Rhône-Alpes, Marseille, Brussels, Dublin, Belfast, Manchester and London, as well as fosters a network of distributors in Rome, Milan, Budapest, Madrid and Barcelona and now Germany.

About Panavision
Panavision Inc. is a leading designer and manufacturer of high-precision camera systems, including both film and digital cameras, and lenses and accessories for the motion picture and television industries. Renowned for its world-wide service and support, Panavision systems are rented through its domestic and internationally owned and operated facilities and distributor network. Panavision also supplies lighting, grip and crane equipment for use by motion picture and television productions. For more information, visit www.panavision.com, or join the company on Instagram (panavisionofficial), Twitter (@Panavision), Facebook, LinkedIn, Vimeo, and YouTube.

About Ludwig Kamera
Over the last 20 years Ludwig Kameraverleih have established themselves as the most innovative and leading camera rental company in Germany. Enjoying a strong reputation for high quality service and support, Ludwig Kameraverleih offers an extensive range of cameras, lenses and accessories for all areas of cinematography. With offices in Berlin, Cologne, Munich, Leipzig, Hamburg and Erfurt, Ludwig Kameraverleih is serving the most important production spots over Germany. For more information, visit www.ludwigkamera.de or join the company on https://www.facebook.com/Ludwigkamera